Tranmere Rovers manager Les Parry happy at early present for Christmas from Everton

Nov 25 2011 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

TRANMERE manager Les Parry was given a “fantastic” early Christmas present when Everton agreed to extend José Baxter’s loan spell at Prenton Park into the New Year.

The talented teenager, who has made a big impact in nine senior appearances so far, will be available for all of Rovers games through December and the festive holiday programme.

Parry spoke with Everton counterpart David Moyes this week in the hope of extending the loan into a third month and met with success yesterday.

“David said Everton are quite happy for Jose to stay with us for another month and the lad himself wants to stay,” Parry said. “He’s really enjoying his time here.

“This is fantastic news. It is great for Everton to do this. They have done us a real favour and hopefully they will get a little bit out of it if we send back a more rounded player.

“The loan runs until January 7 so we will have him until after we have played the Christmas and New Year games. It is a busy and important time of the year and we will be better off having him in the squad.”

The second month of Baxter’s loan was due to expire after Tranmere’s League One fixture at Exeter City tomorrow.

Parry confirmed the 19-year-old from Bootle is keen to carry on in his creative role just behind the striker in Rovers 4-4-1-1 formation.

“José loves it here,” Parry said.

“It is a two-way thing because when you take a Premier League player you are a little bit unsure about how they are going to adapt to the style of football at our level and fit in at a club outside the Premier League.

“To be fair to José, he’s just knuckled down and got on with it. There’s no hiding from the fact that he is an exceptional talent but the question about adapting is a big one.

“We watch Premier League reserve team football every week and although there is no doubting the ability of the players on show, you doubt whether a lot of them could knuckle down at our level and play at our level.”

Parry says Baxter’s positive impact at Tranmere goes beyond his contribution on the pitch.

“Off the pitch he has taken on board everything about the club,” Parry said. “He accepts everything.

“He has come from the club where he probably gets a little bit more pampered than the players do here but he is just one of the lads. He contributes to the banter in the dressing room.

“That goes on top of what he does on the pitch – and on the pitch he gives us that little bit of guile and class that we are looking for in his position.”

Baxter can expect to keep his place in the side at St James Park, where midfielder Robbie Weir will be missing for the first time in a League One game this season through suspension.

Weir picked up his fifth booking of the campaign in the 2-1 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday.

Striker Enoch Showunmi is ruled out by an ankle injury while Zoumana Bakayogo is also a nonstarter after picking up a knock in a reserve team game in midweek.

Joss Labadie will be hoping for a recall as Weir’s replacement in midfield while Lucas Akins and Adam McGurk will be putting pressure on Mustafa Tiryaki for the central striking role.